Discover London’s 40 best Bars drinks spots for your trip

Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese

★ 4.4 · 7,283 reviews

Step into Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, a Fleet Street pub rebuilt after the Great Fire of London. Wander its warren-like, low-ceilinged rooms over drinks or a meal, soaking up centuries of literary history in the cosy lower level.

Nightjar

★ 4.6 · 2,781 reviews

Track down Nightjar behind its unmarked door on City Road in Shoreditch. Slip into the dim, jazz-age room for live music and cabaret-style cocktail presentations that turn ordering a drink into a show.

Scarfes Bar

★ 4.6 · 1,558 reviews

Step into Scarfes Bar, a wood-panelled hideaway inside the Rosewood London hung with Gerald Scarfe's caricatures. Settle in with an inventive cocktail as live jazz fills the room for a polished, proper night out.

Cahoots Underground

★ 4.6 · 5,291 reviews

Step into Cahoots Underground, a wildly themed hideaway tucked beneath Carnaby's Kingly Court. Soak up the immersive decor and live music while sipping cocktails on a night out built for groups and celebrations.

Tayēr + Elementary

★ 4.4 · 845 reviews

Discover Tayēr + Elementary, Old Street's split-personality cocktail bar. Sip easygoing drinks on tap in the front room, then slip into Elementary's slower-paced back bar for technically inventive, unstuffy cocktails.

Lyaness

★ 4.6 · 2,248 reviews

Discover Lyaness, Ryan Chetiyawardana's boundary-pushing cocktail bar on London's South Bank. Sip inventive, texture-driven drinks with striking presentation inside the stylish Sea Containers building, riverside views included.

AMERICAN BAR

★ 4.6 · 1,112 reviews

Step into the American Bar at The Savoy, one of the world's oldest surviving cocktail bars. Sip an inventive cocktail from the extensive menu amid Art Deco elegance that helped shape Britain's drinking culture.

The Connaught Bar

★ 4.6 · 1,299 reviews

Step into the Art Deco glamour of The Connaught Bar inside Mayfair's famed hotel. Watch the tableside martini trolley roll up and choose your own infusions and bitters for a bespoke, expertly poured martini.

Afternoon Tea Bus with a Glass of Prosecco

★ 4.4 · 2,081 reviews

Board a moving afternoon tea party through central London. Sip a glass of Prosecco and tuck into scones, sandwiches, and tea while landmarks roll past your open-top window over ninety fast-paced minutes.

Dukes Bar

★ 4.1 · 243 reviews

Step into Dukes Bar, a clubby St James's institution tucked inside the hotel. Watch your martini mixed tableside from the trolley, sip a strong, citrus-forward pour, and mind the house rule: two drinks, no more.

The Devonshire

★ 4.4 · 3,157 reviews

Discover The Devonshire, Soho's buzzed-about pub-restaurant hybrid. Tuck into juicy pork ribs with bacon bits and scallops, or a well-rested rib-eye, all washed down with famously good pints in a genuinely welcoming setting.

Satan's Whiskers

★ 4.7 · 1,209 reviews

Discover Satan's Whiskers, a neighbourhood cocktail bar tucked away on Cambridge Heath Road. Walk in without a reservation and enjoy expertly made classic cocktails, served with unpretentious charm by bartenders who favour craft over flashy spectacle.

Discount Suit Company

★ 4.8 · 1,602 reviews

Step into Discount Suit Company, a hidden speakeasy bar built inside a former tailor's shop near Petticoat Lane Market. Settle into the dim, moody space and sip well-crafted cocktails, including standout sours, served by attentive staff in this small, character-filled spot.

Bambi

★ 4.7 · 994 reviews

Discover Bambi, Hackney's intimate listening bar where music and food take equal billing. Settle in for eclectic small plates and inventive cocktails while carefully curated tracks set the mood for a memorable night out.

Noble Rot Soho

★ 4.6 · 760 reviews

Discover Noble Rot Soho, a wine-focused restaurant run by the writers behind Noble Rot magazine. Settle into a relaxed yet polished room for a seasonal European meal paired with bottles from a genuinely serious cellar worth lingering over.

Artesian

★ 4.6 · 904 reviews

Step into Artesian, the plant-filled bar beneath The Langham's ornate ceiling. Settle in for a leisurely evening sipping globally acclaimed cocktails, crafted with meticulous touches like a mid-drink glass swap to keep things cold.

Bar Termini

★ 4.6 · 1,551 reviews

Step into Bar Termini, a narrow slice of Rome tucked into Soho. Sip a well-made espresso by day or a classic negroni in the evening, settling into the compact, well-worn room for a relaxed pre-dinner drink.

69 Colebrooke Row

Discover 69 Colebrooke Row, the tiny Islington bar that helped shape modern London mixology. Settle into the intimate room and sip inventive, flavour-driven cocktails crafted with the same precision that's defined this address for over a decade.

The Coral Room

★ 4.6 · 886 reviews

Step into The Coral Room, a vividly decorated bar and afternoon tea spot inside The Bloomsbury hotel. Sip inventive cocktails by night or sink into a photogenic afternoon tea by day, surrounded by bold coral-hued décor perfect for celebrations.

Swift Soho

★ 4.6 · 1,814 reviews

Step into Swift Soho, an Old Compton Street institution split between a quick upstairs bar and a lively downstairs room. Sip a standout Irish coffee or another classic cocktail while soaking up the buzzing, packed-in Soho energy.

The Donovan Bar

★ 4.6 · 296 reviews

Step into The Donovan Bar at Brown's Hotel in Mayfair, surrounded by striking photographic decor honoring Terence Donovan. Sip expertly crafted cocktails in a classy, relaxed setting perfect for a pre-dinner drink or a night out with friends.

Happiness Forgets

★ 4.6 · 1,039 reviews

Duck into Happiness Forgets, a basement cocktail bar tucked off Hoxton Square with no sign to give it away. Settle into the softly lit room and let the warm, attentive staff guide you through a well-executed drinks list.

Speedboat Bar

★ 4.7 · 5,999 reviews

Discover Speedboat Bar, Soho's neon-lit take on regional Thai cooking. Book ahead to join the buzzy crowd for bold, authentic flavours and drinks, knowing the portions run small for the roughly £50-a-head bill.

Soho Music and Historic Pubs Walking Tour

★ 4.9 · 962 reviews

Discover Soho's storied streets on an evening walking tour through London's music and pub heritage. Wander past legendary venues on Denmark Street and Wardour Street, then duck into centuries-old pubs as the after-work crowd settles in.

George

★ 4.3 · 7,446 reviews

Step into George, a centuries-old galleried pub tucked near Borough Market. Settle in for a pint or a lunchtime meal across its historic multiple floors, soaking up a genuine slice of old London.

SOMA Soho

★ 4.7 · 1,613 reviews

Discover SOMA Soho, a Denman Street cocktail bar that's built a name as one of Soho's best-kept secrets. Sip carefully crafted cocktails and enjoy attentive service that keeps regulars coming back, even if it means queuing on a busy weekend night.

Side Hustle

★ 4.7 · 551 reviews

Discover Side Hustle, a buzzy Covent Garden cocktail bar with a Mexican twist. Sip playful, well-reviewed cocktails alongside standout dishes, making it perfect for a full night out on Bow Street.

Three Sheets Dalston

★ 4.7 · 457 reviews

Discover Three Sheets Dalston, the original home of this beloved London cocktail group. Settle into a friendly neighbourhood bar and sip thoughtfully crafted drinks without the queues found at its Soho sibling.

Experimental Cocktail Club Chinatown

★ 4.0 · 1,227 reviews

Step off buzzing Gerrard Street into Experimental Cocktail Club Chinatown's hushed, low-lit hideaway. Settle in for courteous, professional service and expertly mixed cocktails, including inventive twists on the classics.

Seed Library

★ 4.6 · 432 reviews

Discover Seed Library, a hidden cocktail spot tucked along Shoreditch High Street. Settle into the cosy, book-lined interior with low lighting and good music for a discreet, laid-back night out.